What soil does Dawn redwood grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, acidic.

Is Dawn redwood hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Dawn redwood be planted?

Plant it at least 8 m from buildings. Keep it at least 2.5 m from paving.

How much water does Dawn redwood need?

Water need: high. Drought tolerance: low.

Dawn redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is a large tree. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: low.

Illustration of Dawn redwood — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Dawn redwood is a deciduous conifer: its soft, ferny, fresh green needles turn copper and orange-brown in autumn and then drop together with the short shoots. It grows very fast into a huge, regular cone, so plant it only in a large garden, a park or beside water, well away from buildings and cables. It is happiest in deep, moist, neutral to acid soil, and on drier sites it needs regular watering.

Watch out for

It has hardly any pests or diseases; the problems come from the site. In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe it struggles without moist soil and regular watering, because it wants evenly damp ground and humid air. It copes poorly with strongly limy, alkaline soil. Shoots that keep growing late into autumn can be nipped by early frost. It reaches twenty to thirty metres, so it outgrows an average family garden within a few decades.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: High
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 8 m × 3 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous

All details

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	8 m × 3 m
Ultimate size	20–35 m × 4.5–10 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	no data
Water need	High
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Medium
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 8 m
Distance from paving	at least 2.5 m
Litter	Leaves
Planting distance	800 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

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